-- After three sub 20-point quarters Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks, the Blazers put together another stinker in the second quarter of tonight's game, scoring only 16 points. Portland missed too many open looks, going 5-for-17 in the quarter.

-- LaMarcus Aldridge continues to struggle, scoring only 3 points in the first half on 1-for-4 shooting. His turnovers (3) match his point total.

-- Along with missing open looks, the Blazers have further hurt themselves by turning the ball over 10 times in the first half. Portland has 10 turnovers to 9 assists (recording only a single assist in the second quarter).

-- The main culprits in giveaways: Aldridge (as mentioned above), Gerald Wallace (3) and Andre Miller (2). And they have been pretty sloppy, unforced turnovers for the most part.

-- Portland's 10 turnovers have lead to 12 points for Houston. The Rockets' 7 turnovers have netted only 4 points for the Blazers.

-- Wallace does lead the Blazers with 6 rebounds to go with 7 points (3-8) at the half.

-- Portland has only one player in double figures, Nicolas Batum with 10 (in 15:48), while the Rockets have three: Kyle Lowry (13), Kevin Martin (12) and Luis Scola (10).

-- Nicolas Batum came out firing in the first quarter, scoring 7 (3-4) of the Blazers' first 13 points. He led Portland in scoring. Wesley Matthews had 5 points.

-- Rockets' forward Luis Scola countered with 10 of the Rockets' first 18 points. Scola made all five of his attempts. Kyle Lowry added 8 points.

-- Gerald Wallace looked much more comfortabel on the floor with his new teammates, scoring 5 points, dishing out an assist, along with a pair of steals.

-- LaMarcus Aldridge uncharacteristically struggled in the first quarter, scoring only 2 points and attempting only three shots, but did dish out a pair of assists. Credit the defense of Scola and Chuck Hayes for Aldridge's limited first quarter.